Let’s be honest: finding five minutes alone feels impossible, right?
With school drop-offs, therapy sessions and a never-ending pile of washing, you’d happily pay someone to give you a private retreat.
Well, here’s the good news: your bathroom can be that escape, and it doesn’t require a reno or a spa budget.
Over time I’ve turned my bathroom into a micro-sanctuary, complete with mood lighting, a stash of self-care treats, and a foolproof “do not disturb” cue. Here’s how you can, too.
Tip 1: Signal System
Create a simple traffic-light sign for the door: green means “come in,” amber means “hurry up,” red means “mum’s recharging.”
It takes two seconds to glance up and check, and it teaches everyone in the household to honour your boundary without having to summon reinforcements.
Tip 2: Self-Care Kits in the Cabinet
Tuck a small tray into your bathroom cabinet stocked with hand-cream, a mini essential-oil diffuser and your absolute favourite lip balm.
No more searching for a moisturiser; as soon as you slip inside, your kit is ready and waiting, signalling that yes, you deserve this moment.
Tip 3: Bathtub Reading Ritual
I bought a waterproof pouch for my eReader and slip in a few short, uplifting reads, poems, bite-sized essays.
As the tub fills, I pop in my pouch and let the pages transport me into silent reflection. Ten minutes in warm water with words I love? Blissful.
And here’s a quick trick: the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise. Name five things you see, four you can touch, three you hear, two you smell, one you taste.
Do it as you wait for the water; instant calm.
Once a week I lean in for a twenty-minute candlelit soak, my phone on “aeroplane mode.” No work emails, no dinner worries, just bubble bath and deep breaths.
Trust me, it’s not indulgent; it’s essential. Because a rested mum is a patient mum.
